regular council meeting on Tuesday, May 12th, 2026 in council chambers, Sparta Township Municipal Building, 65 Main Street, Sparta, New Jersey. The regular meeting is opened at 7:04. All council meetings are now livereamed
and can be viewed at the following link, youtube.comspartwpstreams. Adequate notice of this meeting was provided to the public and the press on January 7th, 2026 by delivering to the press and posting on the township website a copy of the notice. Madame
clerk, may I have a roll call, please? >> Councilman Scott >> here. >> Councilman Murphy >> here. Councilman Clark >> here. >> Deputy Mayor Sylvester >> here. >> Mayor Blumeetti >> here. Would you all rise and join me in a salute to our flag? I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> As we begin our township business meeting tonight, I remind you that we're all here because we care deeply about
our town and want to help keep it special. We belong to one close-knit community. While we may not agree on everything, we share a deep and abiding care for our town. And that common ground is what keeps Sparta strong. I respectfully ask that
all of us, myself, colleagues on the deis and you, the public, strive to actively listen tonight to one another and to be respectful as we interact. Thank you. We will start off the evening with two proclamations.
The first one is for water safety month. And I believe we have Linda Tower here. >> Yep. >> In the back. Hi, Linda. Whereas Sparta Township together with the New Jersey Swim Alliance, NJSSA,
and the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association, NJRPA, recognizes the vital role that swimming and aquatic related activities play in supporting good physical and mental health and enhancing quality of life for all people.
And whereas water safety education is essential in preventing drownings and recreational water related injuries. And whereas the recreational water industry, including the organizations involved in the National Water Safety
Month Coalition, contributes significantly to the development of safe swimming facilities, aquatic programs, home pools, spas, and related activities that help individuals of all ages learn, grow, build confidence, and improve
well-being. And whereas ongoing efforts by the pool, spa, lake, water park, recreation, and parks industries continue to educate the public on pool and spa safety issues and initiatives.
And whereas communicating water safety rules and programs to families and individuals of all ages, including owners of private pools, users of public swimming facilities, and visitors to water parks, is vital to
protecting our community. Now therefore, be it resolved that the township council of the township of Sparta calls upon all citizens to reflect upon and renew our commitment to responsible water safety practices, to raise awareness, and to report
concerns in an effort to keep all members of our community safe. Linda, would you like to come up? just want to emphasize that drowning is actually the leading cause of death um for children ages 1 to four and the
second leading cause from 4 to 14. So given Sparta's plethora of backyard pools and lakes and recreation facilities, access to the beach, it's just something we all need to keep in mind um this month and leading into the summer. And Sparta is a part of a
statewide effort to get this message out this year with this proclamation. So we thank you very much. >> Thank you for being here. Appreciate it, Dean. Mayor, >> picture time. Thank you. Now, our second proclamation tonight is
for mental health awareness month. Whereas mental health is essential to the well-being of individuals and communities. And whereas an estimated 23 to 26% of US adults
representing over 59 million people experience a mental health condition each year while many continue to face barriers to care including limited access and lingering stigma. And whereas youth mental health is a
critical concern as 50% of lifetime mental health conditions begin by age 14 and 75% by age 24. Yet nearly 60% 60 of young people with major depression do
not receive treatment. And whereas early intervention can make a significant difference in long-term outcomes. But stigma often discourages individuals, particularly young people,
from seeking help. This highlights the need for open conversation and supportive community environments. And whereas increasing public understanding of mental health, promoting awareness and encouraging
respectful dialogue help reduce stigma and ensure that those who need care feel empowered to reach out. And now therefore, be it resolved that the township council of the township of Sparta proclaims May as mental health
awareness month and encourages all citizens, organizations, and providers to promote mental wellness, support those affected by mental health conditions, and foster a community where seeking help is met with understanding
and compassion. We don't have someone here tonight to accept us. Uh but the message is is clear and a vital one. Um um it's uh part of it's part of equal to physical health. Um and it's something that um I think the tides are changing, but
there's still a great need out there um for appropriate and for easy access to mental health uh healthcare services. So uh just please keep this in mind as we move forward. Next, we're going to move on to minutes. We have two minutes to approve tonight.
May I have a motion, please, to approve the regular meeting minutes, the budget meeting from March 7th, 2026. >> So moved. May I have a second? Second. >> All in favor say I.
>> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carried. Next are the executive meeting minutes. May I have a motion to approve the April 14th, 2026 executive meeting minutes as presented?
>> So moved. >> May I have a second? >> I'll second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carried. >> Moving on to our manager's report. Town manager Zep, would you please present
your manager's report for us tonight? >> Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, Mayor, Council members, and all Sparta residents joining us in person or watching from home. Thank you for being with us tonight. Sign up for Sparta Township Rave Alerts.
Sparta Township would like to remind and encourage all residents and customers of our water and sewer utilities to sign up to receive important alerts through the township's rave alert system. To register, please visit the township's website. Click on how do I, then sign up
for and select rave alert system. You may also use the website search bar and type rave alert system to sign up. When signing up, you can choose from a list of alert categories to ensure you receive only the notifications that matter most to you.
809 West Mountain Road update. By way of an update regarding the 809 West Mountain Road matter, the township has uh was advised last week by the property owner that the soil test results were received and have all come back clean. The township has requested a copy of the
results and once those results are in the possession of the township, they will be subject to the open public records act. Because this is a private matter between two residents, any further questions should be directed by email or via public records request which can be found on the township's
website. Landfill closure update. Nothing new to report at this time. We are waiting for title commitments and property assessment reports on the five parcels being donated. County resurfacing program update.
Commuters are encouraged to visit the township's website and check the news flash section for the latest information on county-led road resurfacing projects. Updates on the county roads are posted regularly, so please check back often to stay informed about current and upcoming
work. In Sparta Library news, during the month of April, the annual Mohawk Avenue third grade class field trip to the Sparta Library took place as they are within walking distance of each other. The students were broken up into six different groups and spent roughly 20
minutes at each station which include a button maker, video games, library bingo, STEM station, escape lockbox, and 3D pens. Following this event, the library does benefit from an increase in registration for library cards.
Public works staff are working with Sparta Library to install pavers under the picnic tables located outside the library, which should be completed by the end of this week, weather permitting. This upgrade should result in more balanced picnic tables as well as easier lawn maintenance.
A couple of uh reminders of events. The New Jersey property tax relief seminar scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, May 13th, has been cancelled due to low enrollment. Saturday, May 16th, 9:00 am to noon. Join our annual trout fishing derby at
the pond at Station Park. Registration is not required and there's no cost to attend, but we will be accepting donations to the local food pantry. Saturday, May 30th, 9:00 a.m. to noon will be our free paper shred and e-waste event, rain or shine here at Town Hall
lower level parking lot. Saturday, June 6th at 9:00 a.m. the trails committee have scheduled their first community hike. Please find information about registering for the hike on our website under news flashash. Further information on all these events can be found on the township's website.
Chief McCarrick will now be reading his report. This concludes my report. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, manager Zep. Thank you, Mayor. Deputy Mayor Councel. I have a few things to report tonight. Sparta Township Police Department was awarded $7,000 in grant money to provide
overtime funds for officers working to educate and enforce seat belt and child safety restraint violations with the click or ticket campaign. The campaign will take place from May 18th to through May 31st and you will see extra patrols
during this time. Um I I report on these grants a lot. It's important that we get these uh gives our officers extra time to get out there to enforce these these violations, make the public aware of it, but also seeing an officer out there also deters certain driving habits that
could cause motor vehicle crashes. So, having the officers out there being present and vigilant um makes people more vigilant and and tends to have them slow down. Our annual law enforcement special Olympics torch run will be taking place
on Friday, June 5th, 2026. Over 3,000 police officers will take the streets to run 26 separate legs starting at 4:45 a.m. to raise raise awareness for the New Jersey Special Olympics. This inspiring event will lead up to the New Jersey Special Olympics Summer Games, which takes place at the College
of New Jersey. If anyone from the public would like to run with us, please email me, jccarrickspartedd.org. My email is on our township website. A reminder of our Memorial Day parade May 25th. Um we will be out there as always
and the plaza will be closing um when it's safe uh uh to do so. So, uh we'll provide some more updates on social media about that. Um but just be aware that the plaza will be closed for the parade. I'm proud to announce that the
completion of our third annual report for 2025. uh when I became chief, this is something that I wanted to really do and three years strong we have going. It shows our transparency and the extensive report provides an overview of the police department on all levels. Uh this
year we included again our analytical review of our department's use of force and vehicle pursuits which I did report on earlier um uh I believe last month or the month before. I would like to thank our team who put forth a tremendous effort and amount of time in getting this together. There's a lot of work
into it. everything uh that we could possibly think about that our police department does um from all the incidents that we handle uh to life- saving events to awards to purchasing uh to staffing is on that report. If anybody has any questions about the
report, they could contact me directly either email or my office. Last thing I'd like to touch on is Sunday, May 12th through Saturday, May 18th marks National Police Week. This nationally recognized week gives us a
time to reflect on our officers who never made it home to their families. We think about those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the ones they served. The National Law Enforcement um memorial data shows that 136 federal, state,
county, mun municipal, military, tribal, and campus officers had died in the line of duty in 2022 2025. And I'm sorry, that's 111, not 136. Luckily, this was a decrease from 2024.
With the warm warm weather leading into the summer, vacations, and celebrations, we need to take a moment to think about these families who will not be able to celebrate these moments with their loved ones and who didn't make it home through their shift. We wear this morning band around our
badge in memory of the ones that we lost. We think about their dedication and the dedication from their families. To the women and men who make up Sparta Police Department as your chief, I want to say thank you. Thank you for the sacrifices you have made for the greater good of the Spartan community. Thank you
for their your determination, your professionalism, your guidance, and your commitment to not only those who seek us in their worst moment, but also your families, each other, and most importantly to yourselves. I know what you do day in and day out and you are simply the best.
We work with the best. Sparta Police Department is the best. The most prominent quote associated with the National Police Week specifically engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC is it is not how these officers died that made
them heroes. It is how they lived. This week we all celebrate together and remember those officers who cannot be here to celebrate with us. Thank you. That concludes my report. Could I ask for a moment of silence for the officers lost in the line of duty? >> Absolutely.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you, Chief. And goes without saying, please keep uh I'm sure we'll all keep National Police Week and especially those who are lost in our our minds and our hearts. Um not only this week, but constantly. Thank you for sharing that with us. >> Thank you, Mayor.
>> Agreed. Just a quick question. Are we um lighting the town hall building? Are we >> town hall will be green today for mental health right >> proclamation >> for the week of it starts tonight so we
>> okay thank you chief thank you >> okay thank you chief and thank you manager Zep may I have a motion to accept the manager's report as presented >> so moved >> may I have a second >> second >> all in favor say I
>> motion carried okay we're now moving on to the first open to the public segment for tonight. This is for items on the agenda. Again, this is items on the agenda, including resolutions, but with the exception of ordinance hearings. If you recall, ordinance
hearings have their own public comment segment. Uh so, if it's on the agenda, this is your time except for ordinances. There'll be a second public comment period later on in the meeting for items not on the agenda. Uh, when you get to the microphone, please state and spell
your name for the record. And each speaker is limited to one comment of no more than 5 minutes and no yielding of time to another person. Good evening, Rick Franlea. Um, I attend a lot of these meetings. I don't often talk, but I do listen. So, I
want to make a comment um on that White Lake uh West Mountain property. Um it seems like you're trying to dismiss interrupt you. This this is for items that are on the agenda. >> Okay. So, it was discussed as part of the agenda.
>> No, it's that's really for the later period. These are for items that are I'll come back. Yeah. On the agenda, if you don't mind. Yeah. Thank you. I appreciate it. Okay. Anyone else with comments for items on the agenda? >> Okay. Seeing none, we'll close this this
public comment period. Moving on to expenditures. Deputy Mayor Sylvester, would you please read the expenditures for May 12th, 2026? >> Yes. Expenditures for May 12th, 2026. Total1,339,749. May I have a motion to approve?
>> So moved. We have a second. >> Second. >> All in favor of approving the expenditures from May 12th say I. >> I. >> I. >> Motion carried.
Okay. We have no introductions of ordinances tonight. So, we're moving on to hearings. Madame clerk, would you please read the title of ordinance 26-06? >> An ordinance amending chapter 2, administration, article 11, taxation and
revenue of the revised general ordinances of the township of Sparta, amending section 2-62, 100% disabled veteran tax refunds. Mayor, I move that we table uh 2606
uh so that we can present uh an ordinance that will restore the 24-month look back for the full 100% and also uh for anyone whose disability determination would be have occurred
before the adoption of the ordinance and then for anyone after that whose disability determination is after uh the effective date of the ordinance, uh they would get the municipal portion. Um I think that uh we've heard a lot of discussion here. I think that we have to
find a way to restore uh as much as we can the full retroactive uh benefit. So I would move that we table that so that at the next meeting we can introduce an ordinance um that provides for that. So I would move that we table this.
>> I will second I'll second it first. Let me just get Yeah. >> Clarification procedurally. Um in in doing so, is it the proper thing to just vote on this one so the other one could be introduced or is it going to be an
amendment to this one that's up here tonight being presented tonight? I just trying to figure out the procedures. I was trying to get I couldn't get to everybody today. Yeah, the the table effectively um effectively nullifies the pending the pending uh ordinance if it
passes. The table passes as long as it's not brought back from the table at the next meeting. >> Don't need to vote on it by by by us tableabling it. The new ordinance that'll be correct introduced will replace this one in its entirety. >> Correct. Okay. Just want to clarify >> once it goes on the table technically we
have to bring it back purposely doesn't automatically come back again. So thank you. Um yeah, so I I second the motion to table it. Um uh Councilman Clark, is there any other situ any reason any other context you'd like to add just just for this evening before we get >> into the context is is we've obviously
spent the last four or five months. Um and I really appreciate all the people who came out and spoke so passionately on this issue. Um, I think that we uh we heard you and I I spent the weekend looking at this ordinance and trying to
figure out a way to um to balance the interests that are at play. Now, our veterans are critically important and uh but we also have um you know, town administration who has has told us that is currently it it's you know, financially unsustainable. So, we had to
figure out a way to to kind of thread that that needle. And so I thought one of the better ways was to restore the full uh 100% retroactive refund for anyone whose disability determination occurs uh prior to the effective date of
the ordinance. And I know that, you know, there's a way to do this administratively that's pretty straightforward because uh we had the benefit on Friday of meeting with folks from our financial department, tax assessor's office. um also a representative from um the Veteran
Support Alliance who you know gave uh helpful feedback uh about the process because their organization is um among the many things that they do, they're dedicated to helping people um process and get their paperwork in order for disability determination. So I found
that that background information they provided very helpful. So on that, you know, when the Department of Veterans Affairs notifies you and this is a document that is provided to our tax assessor's office, it identifies the effective date um the effective date of when the person becomes totally and
permanently disabled. And so that that way we have something that we can say, okay, what's that date? If it came before the effective date of the ordinance, they get the full refund and uh with a full year two-year look back. And so I also cleaned up some of the whereas clauses. There was a lot of
confusion. Um I don't know whether it was purposeful or not. Whether this was going to take away the entire property tax exemption, not at all. We couldn't do that in the first place. And that was, you know, so there was some confusion there. It makes it clear that's not going to happen. There's
another confusing thing about uh with the definition of veteran. It said in time of war. I struck that because there was confusion back in and this was very helpful background and may explain some of the reason why we've had kind of an influx uh in 2023. They um they got rid
of that requirement for entirely new to property tax exemption about the foreign war uh requirement and that opened up a whole another group of folks who deservedly uh could get the property tax exemption and so that process has um
probably caught up to us. So that's another reason. So in light of that information, I thought, look, as I said, you know, passing this ordinance, I'd rather pass a kidney stone. This is not something anyone up here wanted to do. Um, no one wanted this. Absolutely no
one. And so and and to portray it as there's people on here who are anti-military was completely fab. There's no one who wanted to do this. Um, and we're trying to reach kind of a solution here. So we'll see. Um, I I look forward to getting more input from
my fellow council members. Uh, they've already started to give ideas. I did circulate a redline version of the ordinance over the weekend that they could digest. But, um, I look forward to putting that we all look forward to putting forward a bill is, you know, uh,
in two weeks uh, that's a heck of a lot better uh, than the previous one. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Thanks for thanks for reaching out to the alliance too and getting some direct input on that. >> Thank you, Eric, for being here.
>> Thank you. >> Okay, so at this point uh we could do a roll call vote uh for the motion to table this. >> Will there still be an opportunity? >> Well, depends depends on what happens here. I'll just I'll address that later on. No comments from the audience,
please, yet the microphone only, but I'll address that once we do our vote. So, let us do that first. Um, okay. So, this is a a motion to table 2606. Um, and then a a different compromised
version uh will be proposed in two weeks um and introduced and go through the whole process again. So, may I have a roll call vote, please? Councilman Scott, >> I've spent many hours with town officials and been on likely over 50 calls
totaling 20 to 30 hours on this issue in the past two months. I am still not convinced that we have a grasp on the numbers and how much this is costing the town. I lean with the veterans and vote no on changing the existing two-year program. >> Mark, Councilman, that's that's not a
vote you what you described is not this ordinance. We're just voting on whether we're going to table this ordinance tonight. Um and then we can table 2606. >> Yeah. >> That's the subject ordinance. >> The one for the hearing tonight. That's what we're voting on. So, do you want to
table 2606? So, it's not to approve um the possible other one that has a look back included that Councilman Clark mentioned. That one still has to be introduced in two weeks if this is tabled. So if you table this, this goes away and then we
>> or or we could vote on it, right? Or we could just vote on this and this goes away and then the other one could be >> Well, we have to vote on tableabling it first. >> Vote on tableabling it. >> Yeah. >> Tabling 2606. >> Yeah. >> No. So >> you want 2606 to stay here? >> Yes. >> Okay.
Councilman uh Councilwoman Murphy, >> we have to vote to table this. I vote to table this. Yes. >> Councilman Clark. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor Sylvester, >> I'm going to vote no. >> Mayor Blummedi,
>> yes. Table it. Okay. So, 2606 has been tabled. So, this hearing tonight for 2606 has become non-existent. In respect for the residents and guests who are here
tonight that wanted to share comments on this, I will allow you in the next public comment segment for items not on the agenda to share comments. I ask you though because this is we'll have introduction again and potentially introduction and a another hearing to
please keep your comments to discussion that you heard up here tonight not the broad issue in general because 2606 is tabled. So I'm willing to do that >> um and have it at the next segment which will only be in like probably 10 minutes but so this hearing is non-existent anymore. >> We're going to move on.
>> Thanks for clarifying that because that's was influenced my vote. I would like to hear from the public especially if we're considering other alternatives for the next one. >> Right. >> So, thank you for clarifying that. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, moving on. Uh, Madame Clerk, would you please read the title for
ordinance 2608? >> An ordinance amending chapter 20, sewer and sewage disposal section 20-2.5 sewer rates of the revised ordinances of the township of Sparta, Sussex County, New Jersey.
>> Thank you. Okay, we're going to open up ordinance 2608 for public comment. Again, this is on 2608 only. This is the ordinance that was introduced last meeting about the sewer and sewer disposal rates. Any comments from the public?
Okay, seeing none, I'll bring it back to the deis uh for council. Any discussion or comments on 2608? Okay, seeing none, may I have a motion? >> Is this gonna is this going to bring us
break even here on this sewer? >> It's going to help. It won't bring us completely break even, but it's going to work >> to break even >> because uh the allocation that we're paying for schuma, this is outside the allocation. This is just for the user rates.
There's there's other draws that keep the utility unsustainable, but this gets us closer and it reduces the amount that we have to subsidize, but we're getting there. This is necessary. >> You recommend this?
>> Yes, I do. And so does the rate study that we had conducted earlier. >> Yeah, I was going to ask that. I know I I connected with town manager around the the background for this and it was based on the rate study that was done around the water utility and the sewer utility. You have a percentage of increase.
>> Yes, it's uh the first year is uh 25%. Second year 27 is uh 10% and then in 2028 it's um 5%. >> And that was based on your rate study? >> Yes, it's based on the rate study. Also,
uh the Cess County MUA has uh always been increasing their conveyance rates and um personal maintenance costs uh just for our personnel to keep up the maintenance. >> So, this is a three-year lock. It's a locked >> Yes. >> rate increase for the next three years.
>> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. I have a motion to adopt ordinance 2608. So moved. >> May I have a second? >> I'll second. Madam clerk, may I have a roll call vote, please?
>> Councilman Scott, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Murphy, >> yes. >> Councilman Clark, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Sylvester, >> yes. >> Mayor Blumetti, >> yes. Resol resolution 2608 has been
approved, passed, adopted. Sorry, ordinance 2608. Moving on to resolutions. Uh, so we have four tonight. Uh, I'm planning to carve out 83 and do that separately. Would anyone like to carve out any of the other
three? I'll make a motion to approve 81, 82, and 84. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed? >> Okay. Resolution 81, 82, and 84 have
been approved. Motion carried. >> Uh, okay. 83. This is a resolution of the Township of Sparta, County of Sussex, State of New Jersey, to authorize the establishment of a dedication by Ryder to the budget of the Township of Sparta for the beautifification committee trust fund.
May I have a motion to approve resolution 83? >> So moved. >> May I have a second? >> I will second. >> Okay. And uh >> I can explain it if you need to. you want to please? >> Yeah, sure. Sure. Um, so the purpose of
this is really a financial accounting issue. Um, in order to accept for a municipality to accept donations, they have to create a separate fund. Um, you can't just co-mingle those funds with an appropriation. So, the purpose of this
uh resolution is for, you know, we started a SPAR beautifification committee. Um the impetus for that was among other things um the need to spruce up along Main Street, make it look nice and then also we had um a generous
donation uh from Beyondo Investments and in order to accept that money uh we first have to set up a separate fund in to which we can put that money. So we have to do that first before we can take possession uh of the contribution. And so that is what this is establishing. Uh
because a lot of towns like Danville for example, they do the township does appropriate money to the beautifification committee uh that they use for plants and flowers and all kinds of initiatives, but they also accept donations and the donations actually end
up far swamping uh the amount of the allocation. I think the last I heard it was they get over 14,000 in donations along with a $10,000 contribution uh from the township. So that's the purpose of 83. Uh so we hope uh once this is
established that Beyond won't be the only one who be willing to donate for this. So thank you. And >> this is a common a common mechanism, right? Other towns use this often. Okay. >> Any questions, comments on A3?
>> Just clarification. This is more of an ad administrative accounting fix to get it get a line item dedicated for it so you could track the donations coming in. >> Yes. >> And there's no I you mentioned that the town gave a original $10,000
contribution. >> No, there has been no money appropriated and will not be any money appropriated for the >> So this is just to set up a line item for any future donations to earmark and make sure we track those funds for that program. So they're not co-mingled with
funds. >> All right. Thank you. >> Y >> yeah. >> Okay. Uh all in favor of resolution approving 83 say I. >> I. >> I. >> Any opposed or abstains? Okay. 83. Motion carried.
>> So Neil, how do we donate and who do we make it out to and where do we send it? >> So we can do um my understanding Jim is we do Sparta Township. whether we have to on the four line say Sparta beautifification committee but um >> that should do it like once they once it
says Sparta Township for the Sparta beautifification committee our finance office will put it in the appropriate appropriate account and then it will be identified as such on the proper ledger. Is that >> right Jim? >> Okay, >> that's correct. Thanks.
>> Okay, we're moving on to our second open to the public segment. This is for items not on the agenda. Um again, if you would like to share thoughts on ordinance 2606, which the hearing and the ordinance got tabled, um I just ask
that you please keep them uh to to new thoughts and new items and new reflections on what you heard up here tonight about it's tabled now and perhaps what's coming next. Uh when you approach the microphone, please state and spell your name for the record. Each speaker is limited to one comment of no
more than five minutes and no yielding of time to another person. Again, this for items not on the agenda. Jenny, >> Jenny, Derek, tap into Sparta. Um, first I have a question about um the business development committee's uh web web page
for businesses. How's that going? Is it up and running? And how much did it cost the town to do that? And second, can you please explain why you did what you just did? Do you intend to bring this veterans ordinance back and restrict
their look back or is the intention to bring another ordinance? Why not just vote no? If if the majority, it sounded like the majority of you want not to have this look back cancelled, why go through all of the rigomearroll of and the bring make the the community go
through angst to not understand. Why not just cancel it? Vote no and you're done. Thank you. >> Anything else, Jenny? Your first question? >> Just the business community >> PDC first. Okay. Anybody Mark handle that? >> I didn't know. I know Mark spent time
with the IT on website. >> Oh, sure. >> Yeah. I'm sorry. >> And how much did it cost? Is the other >> How much did it cost? >> Use your hand. >> Has it cost anything? >> Microphone, please. >> Microphone. Thank you. I met I met with Joe from our
IT department uh yesterday and we are working to update the township web page and that will have a a very simple simple contacts and resumes of the
people that are on it and the purpose of what the committee is for. there will be a link from that site to an additional site and you could also you could look in the uh town town of Randolph uh EDC site to see what it would look
like and what we're trying to do is we're trying to build a website and the cost is approximately $4,500. $00 and that includes one year's worth of maintenance or update
which is $1,500 and the rest of it is to establish and and get the website up and running. Um the purpose the reason we are spending this money is because I as I understand it I I we had offered to pledge it to
back to the town but we were told that it was had already been allocated and it was already in a bucket that we had that that this is the way we had to use the money. So, we'd like to use it to be effective to increase our
increase our not the attraction of building new businesses in town, but attracting new businesses to utilize the vacant spaces that we have in town and to find out why Sparta is the wonderful town that it is and to encourage our
residents to purchase make make their use use local vendors. Right. In addition to that, um, and I'm still trying to work out the mechanics. We're looking to, as as Councilman Clark did with the beautifification program, try
to find donation to offset and support this website to support our local business community and and and become a really valuable resource as Mark outlined. So, thanks for the report, Councilman Scott. We'll work on that and I'll we'll continue to keep you posted if and when
we're able to find some donations >> and people will be able to upload their businesses. >> We we it's my understanding it's going to be that interactive. We we're trying to get all the businesses one identified on there um because there's many of them
that are not even stated on the previous or older websites you've seen. as well as um some of the open inventory and the vacancies that are throughout town that could be used as a resource guide. All right. >> The exact number is 4250. I just added
it up. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman. Both. Okay. And and Jenny, where'd you go? There you go. That's okay. I don't have any questions for you. Um you asked about the veterans look back in the process. So, I'm just going to keep it short and sweet. This
is not intentional. Um it's not ideal by any stretch of imagination. I mean, we we've been living this as long as everyone out there has. This council is doing its very best to balance the needs of what we're hearing, what we think we'd like to do, and balance it with what we can do and be financial
stewards. Our job is to protect this budget and the finances and to uh allocate them as we as we can. And we're trying to balance u cuts to programs and layoffs and increase in taxes and everything else. And that's part of this equation. So,
all we'll say is we're doing our best. This is, you know, um the way that we work and this council work is we're not going to just come out with one final thing. You get to see this in progress. And um so that's where we are or we're trying to do our best to see if we can come up with something that's a reasonable solution to a um a very
unfortunate but a very challenging situation. Jerry Murphy, 161 Alpine Trail. This uh ordinance was originally introduced last October 14th, 25-20. It is now morphed into 2606.
I'd like to know who drafted this ordinance. >> The council and its attorney. >> No, no. Who specifically? >> The council and its attorney. >> Did you, Mr. Dash, did you draft this? >> The mayor answered your question. The council,
>> I want you to answer the question. Did you draft it? >> Mr. Murphy, you can address me, please. >> I just did. >> And I answered you. >> I don't know what the answer you're looking for. You want me to say every person's individual name? The council and representatives. >> I'm confused because um we do have an an
attorney. >> Yes, of course. The attorney's >> I made some suggestions last fall. >> Understood. Some additions were made, but you still have the wrong universal citation. This thing is flawed from start to finish.
So, you mentioned, Mr. Clark, somebody was going to redline a copy. Who's going to do the black line? >> It's already done. >> It is. >> Yes. You have your own opinion on the the validity. >> No, I'm not talking about my opinion. I'm talking about who is doing the black
line. In other words, you've already gone through this and you have another version ready to go. >> No, not ready to go. It's in the works. >> Well, that's why I'm asking you who's going to do the black line. >> We're going to work on over the next two weeks together. >> Who specifically is going to guide you through this? >> The council up here and the attorney.
>> I don't have a specific answer because we all contribute if we can. >> I know you don't. >> That's our goal. >> Well, it's flawed. Uh wouldn't you invite the input from some veterans in doing this?
>> I won't answer. Sorry, I don't want to use every time >> because uh there are rumors out there that Mr. Dash did not in fact draft this. But he didn't answer for himself. >> That's fine. He doesn't have to answer you. >> He has its attorney and the attorney is
obviously involved in all of our contracts. I assure you, Mr. Murphy, our attorney is involved in all of our contracts. >> And I'm not sure what you're implying that it was drafted by some place outside of the town or >> Well, that's why I want a clarification. >> Do you have any specifics? >> No, I'm asking you.
>> No, my my No, this was drafted by the township many times. >> Don't be that's a universal term. I want a specific person who drafted this thing initially and who added the severability which I brought to your attention that you were missing.
a couple other things. >> But you don't have answers. >> No, I don't have specific answers for you in that because that's not your that's not really your concern, right? >> Oh, really? >> No. No. How it's drafted my concern, Mr. Murphy. How it's drafted legally. I'll tell you what the township
>> comes up with those ordinances. We make sure they're legally valid. We ask for input, which we've heard lots of times, and we're trying to incorporate the input. Don't say we haven't listened. We're trying very hard to incorporate input. And there's a legal matter here. The legal part of it is done by a lawyer. I'm sorry. >> Well, it's wrong.
>> You're entitled to your opinion. >> No, no, I'm looking attorney. >> No, you have the wrong universal citation. >> What What specific things are to get on, >> Mr. Murphy? I think the the best thing to do um and I think we would welcome the changes that you want because now
there will be a revision and so probably the best thing to do is take the current version of 2606. You can save it as a word document. Maybe get a 25-year-old. They'll explain how to do this and you can redline it and you can send us a red line if you have these changes that you want.
>> I want to see your red line and then I'll add the black line. >> We don't share red lines. We'll share the final version. That's attorney client privilege because we're still negotiating. But who's the client? Your input. I don't I don't I'm not trying to >> Mr. Murphy, would you like to client you
like to email us the correction that you believe is >> I'll give you an email address. You send me the red line copy. How's that? Email us and we will take it into consideration. >> No, no, no. I want you send me the red line copy and then I'll get back. >> We're not sending you a red line copy.
>> But you mentioned >> that's a work in pro that's amongst the council and the attorney. That's how we collaborate. We don't share red line intermediate drafts out with the public. >> When you were on town council, did you send out ordinances? >> Yes, you did. >> Yes, we did. We discussed attorney.
>> We never had this. We never had this fiasco. Thank you. >> And thank you for your comments today, >> mayor. I'll just add the the citation is absolutely correct. We follow the New Jersey State Supreme Court citation. The statement made by the resident is
categorically incorrect. >> Thank you. >> You're right. >> Good evening. My name is Ken Hegman. H A G M-n. I'm a resident of Tucker, but I'm the state commander to Veterans of Foreign Wars. were headquartered in Trenton, New Jersey. I came up here,
drove two and a half hours to be here. Um cuz I did see some technical defaults in the ordinance. Um the war veteran of course uh because I know for a fact cuz the VFW is the organization that got the constitution
changed in November of 2020. uh which it gives us benefit to all veterans. And besides 100% disabled veteran, there are numerous conditions, medical conditions in the actual statute that are not
listed in your ordinance that should be listed in the ordinance because it makes it confusing for a veteran when they read the ordinance and it's incorrect. It's not in line with the state law. So, we would ask that you would correct those deficiencies and if you
want to reach out to us, we'll we could sure help you out on that. Uh, the Veterans of Foreign Wars recovers 11 billion a year in benefits for veterans across the country. Here in New Jersey, this year we're on track to
uh recover 169 million for veterans. Currently, we're assisting just about 10,000 veterans in New Jersey in uh obtaining their benefits, their dis mostly disability benefits. I know how long it takes it.
Sometimes for myself, it took me seven years to obtain my disability rating. Um, I wasn't looking to get seven years back in property tax exemption, but
we just came off a 20-year war. And what's unique about the war that we just came out of is the advances in medical emergency medical treatment in the battlefield. The veterans that came home from the Gulf War or the global war on terrorism
came back with the most horrific injuries of any previous war and they wait years. You would think that when somebody comes home with two missing legs, it would be a simple fix that they would get their disability benefits because they obviously didn't join the
Army and Marine Corps with no legs. But it's it's not that easy. and their whole life is upended. Their families are affected because the the the spouse has to stay home more often.
They're limited in their employment opportunities. Of course, the veteran is limited in their employment opportunities because of their uh disability. Their children suffer with lack of funds in the home. they suffer all the way through their life because
often the veteran and the spouse never make enough money to pay for college or a decent college. Uh so this really affects our veterans when we're not just talking about the current global war on
terrorism. We have the Vietnam veterans who were poisoned by Agent Orange. We have the Camp Ojune veterans who were poisoned by po by poison water. >> They were forced to drink. >> And we have Gulf War veterans from the
Gulf War syndrome and uh the oil fires. My wife is a C war veteran. She just lost her lung because of the oil fires. So these are all coming to a head now. And these veterans are retiring early
and their families are suffering because of their milit their connected disabilities. We implore you to keep the ordinance as it is. Uh they they voluntar most of them voluntarily
joined except the Vietnam veterans. They didn't a lot of those didn't voluntarily commit to going to Vietnam. But they fought and they served for the right of everybody in this room and the right of this council to conduct their
business. And we ask that you honor that and keep the ordinance as it is. Thank you. >> Okay, sir. Thank you. >> It's Joanne Scaly, New Jersey. Um, Mayor Bli, in the beginning you said everyone should be respectful of each other, but
once again we have um Councilman Clark disrespecting a senior citizen um age discrimination. I was horrified hearing him say, "Well, maybe you should contact a 25year-old uh to look up." It was upsetting. My heart's racing. It was so upsetting. And
I think Mr. Clark, for once apologize. He always refuses to apologize for his terrible, terrible remarks. >> Um, Mr. Murphy, I apologize. I would say the same thing with me. I need help how to convert a PDF to a word, I would ask
my 25-year-old. I meant no disrespect. >> It was disrespectful to every senior citizen in this room. And I think you should censure him. He's did this too many times. It's not his first time. And it's very upsetting to me. My heart's racing. I was so upset
with this remark. I'm 72. I can do these things. I don't have to go to a 25-year-old. I don't have to go to an 8-year-old. I can do it. You should respect your senior citizens. Mr. Castmore, so many times was ostracized by you. You treated them like crap and
now you're treating I'm just too upset. I can't even speak. But you should have to be stopped. You should be censored. It's too many times that you cross the line. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good evening, uh, Ron Day Sparta. Um,
I'm I'm disappointed that the the ordinance wasn't voted on tonight, but I'll respect the process. Um, I do want to address a couple comments that that were made. Um, Councilman Clark, um, I think you you had said that that you're being or people are being painted as
being anti- veterans. So, let me address that. Um, at least at least in terms of my my comments, I hope they haven't been taken that way. One of the things I was going to say tonight was address that the people that I met with in the township and what a great job they're
doing, how lucky we are to have them. They've been open to a process. We haven't agreed on everything. Um, some things we have. There's still a lot of questions I want answered, but it was, you know, they are not anti veteran. They're doing what they think they should be doing. and and I respect that.
Now, when I bring that same discussion to the council, um again, if I paint anyone as anti veteran, that's not my intention. What I've been trying to do, and I'm mirroring what you ask us to do is you want to hear the people. You want
to represent the will of the people. So, I'm trying to bring the people to that have an opinion similar to mine to this meeting and voice it. And then I'm going to ask the council, vote for the will of the people. That's, you know, the beginning of the meetings.
We're here to listen. I don't feel I'm being listened to. I feel like whenever I put something up there, defense mechanisms go up and I'm not hurt. And I'll give you an example where you can prove me wrong tonight. So, I went back and I looked at the 2026 refunds that
were approved by this council and and I I I put them on a sheet, listed them by resolution and then said and of that I think the total was uh I think it was about uh 70,000 call it
79,000 um of that amount 20,000 um even though it was called refunds it wasn't. It was advanced payments that have nothing to do with look backs, but that's being included in the town's council. So, I'm going to ask I gave a copy of my sheet
to Roxan for everyone to have a copy up there. If you really want to listen, look at it, understand it. If you have questions, call me. You know, I I've asked in the past. I I you've had my information for weeks. Um I did hear from a few people and I appreciate that.
Others, you know, I haven't haven't heard anything. Um, but they're online saying, you know, my numbers are no good. My numbers are no good. Well, let's have a discussion. Maybe if you listen to me, maybe you'll change your mind. I'm I'm willing to listen to you. Um, so the last thing I want to say is
in terms of of postponing um the ordinance, you know, this whole whole thing, and we've talked about this many times, it's it's on affordability. Well, we're supposed to have our budget discussions next week. So you how do you know what's affordable and what's not
affordable till we get through the budget discussions. I expect again if if you're willing to listen there are going to be people that have different perspectives on what's essential and what's non-essential. You know this new budget I think the municipal portion I
think it's up 10%. It's a lot of money. I think the the reserve for uncollected taxes is up almost a million dollars. That's $2 million of money that wasn't there last year. So, I don't know how we can say we can't afford it, but but again, that's not for tonight. Um, but I
think what you need to do is have the budget discussion so you can say, "Yeah, we really looked at it." It seems like we're trying to get this out in front of the budget discussion so it doesn't get mixed in. So, again, I don't think anyone's trying to be uh anti veteran,
but I do ask that you guys listen a lot clearer than you are. Get your defenses down. We're going to get our defenses down and let's see if we can reach a compromise or or or a standard that that says this is this is what we're going to do and we're going to do the best that we can for our townships uh veterans,
especially the disabled veterans. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Ron. >> I'll just make a comment um just to correct something. So the perception, Ron, um that this is not being considered as part of the budgeting process, that couldn't be further from
the truth. That ordinance and that expense just like 100 other or 200 or thousand other expenses has been considered the impact of it, the planning for it, how we can balance it since the beginning. So just because the budget uh took a while with the auditors
and now we introduced it, so it's there, but now it's at the state. So, um, just because the timing is this way and because this ordinance has been worked on for quite a while, I wouldn't correlate that. I wouldn't It's not a cause and effect. It's not that it hasn't been considered and we're going to just pass a budget and then be like, "Oh, look, you know, here's where it
could fit in or it can't fit in." So, just to clarify that, >> allowed to respond or >> No, no. Well, and we get to the budget in two week hopefully two weeks. Thanks. >> Hello. >> Good evening, Mr. Mayor and the rest of the council. My name is Eric Crafton. from Northburg, New Jersey, but I'm also the president of the New Jersey Veteran
Support Alliance. I'm also a proud card carrying member of the VFW and the American Legion, currently serving as the senior vice commander for District 3 in New Jersey for the VFW. First, I heard a lot of talk about over the past week about the current ordinance
that you want to pass as far as taking away the two-year look back from um disabled veterans, 100% disabled veterans. And I'm glad that you tabled this motion. You tabled this ordinance tonight. First, uh, and I hear this all the time about people that pay their
fair share. People need to pay their fair share of taxes. One thing I always try to stress to anybody that's willing to listen to me is veterans already paid their fair share as far as taxes go, but they didn't pay in money. They paid with their bodies, minds, their overall
well-being. So, if you're looking for a group that already paid their fair share, they should be the last ones that should be touched. And I'm glad that you're taking a look back, you're taking a pause, and you're looking at this a lot closer. And I appreciate Neil for speaking with me and Marjorie and taking
this time to further evaluate what um the overall effect on the township, the overall it is this something that's needs to be changed? Is this something that is really blowing a hole in your budget to the point where it has to be redacted or it has to be changed? So, I
appreciate you looking at that and I appreciate your time over the course of this past week. >> Thank you for your time. Appreciate it. >> But I would like to stress one thing about my personal beliefs. No veterans should be the last people
touched for any type of benefit. In my opinion, they don't get enough. um their cont to get 100% VA disability to get that permanent total status is extremely difficult to get. I've seen studies conducted where if you look at
veterans as a whole, the total amount of veterans that receive disability in any form, let alone 100% permanent total, only accounts for 10% of the total veteran population. So, I wonder how many veterans is actually eligible for this tax look back that you're looking
at. The other thing that concerns me about the budget um about the ordinance, and I'm glad me and Neil's talked about this too, is people might have picked Sparta to be their home based on this current ordinance. Now, it's easy to say, "Oh, we're taking away a benefit. If you don't like it, move. You can
always move. Find another municipality." It's not easy to move. They might have picked this town based on these policies. They may not be able to get up and move. At the very least, they should be protected. your current residents. If you're looking to change something, I'm
against it, but at least protect them. But also, I would like but like I said before, I would like to thank you for your time. I would I like to thank you for putting a pause in all this. Also, um give me the my organization that brief little shout out. But I did want
to clarify one thing about my organization and give the VFW some praise. My organization conducts two things. one, we noticed that veterans like to isolate themselves um when they're going through different issues. You just brought up for mental health
awareness day. One of the one of the things that we like to conduct is getting veterans out into the community so that way they don't isolate themselves. The second part is we've noticed whether it be through the VA or local medical that our our healthcare system is a quite frankly a mess. What
we try to do is try to get veterans who reach out to us medical care they may need that they cannot afford. When it comes to um veteran benefits and things of that nature that Neil brought up. I just want to clear up a misconception. We always refer to accredited VSOs. Actually, one of our personal favorites
is the ones from the VFW. They're very wellqualified and they have a very good track record of success. So for anyone listening, I know this probably being broadcasted. I just want to point out to any veterans that might be watching tonight, if you do need help, I encourage you to reach out to the VFW or
the American Legion for qualified accredited VSO. Thank you for your time. >> Thanks for being here. >> I wish the VA was much much better at taking care of all of our our veterans and the state and uh they are not and it's been a long time. They have
supposedly stepped up on on qualifying people for 100% or for their disabilities, but they're still so far in the weeds. It's it's atrocious. It really is the VA, unfortunately. So,
>> thank you for coming. So, uh, Quinn Alpine Trail, uh, Mayor, I'm going to ask for some grace because I have four things in five minutes, but the two sessions went together, so you would get five and five. I'm not asking
for 10, but if I go for six, please have a little grace. >> Keep it keep it tight. I will. And just to clarify, you're speaking on behalf of yourself or as a member of the planning board. >> Oh, no. I'm just me. >> Okay. >> I'm just me. Sorry. Clarify. Um, so first and foremost, Chief, um, thank you
and please extend our thanks to the police department. Um, next week is a special week and I think all of us, we hear how grateful we are. We don't realize how grateful we really are and so we need what the police deliver and
we see. Um, I know the police academy is coming up soon. I think that the registration just went online. Um, I encourage anyone that has small children to get them into that academy. It's an amazing experience that you and the officers have built over time. Um, we
just saw you guys at the college. They participating over there. You're always involved. We always are professional. Just thank you so much and please please convey that to the members of your your department. >> Welcome. Thank you.
>> Um, second, the business development website. Um, if we're looking at in such time when we are at dire spaces in the budget, the cost for that should be zero. We have a township website. Every other page of every other committee that
I was ever on and it's a lot have pages for free on the township website. There is no need to create your own URL that you do not need your own space. You do not need your own whatever any of the interactions or collaborations if you want to do surveys and all that kind of stuff. All of you have Microsoft 365.
We've used those forms before to gather feedback that can be done instantly inhouse at zero cost and that $4,500 should be returned back into the budget like all the um unused funds are at the end of the year. So, I'm just saying
that's point two. Um point three, I'm asking as a a resident, not a member of the planning board, but today we were notified that the planning board meeting that was scheduled for the 20th of May was cancelled. However, uh correspondence
went out to all members of Lake Mohawk that the ordinance for the C1H was going to be approved or voted on for approval by this council on the 26th. So the pro the way the process goes, you guys introduce an ordinance change comes to
the planning board for review and then it goes back to the council. Since the meeting was canceled on the 20th, it is impossible for it to get back to you on the 26th. So, I just want to bring that up so that you I didn't know if you guys knew that the planning board meeting was canceled, but it was. So,
>> I think we just need to to get that back to Lake Mohawk so that they >> they are aware. >> Okay. >> Excuse me, Chris. Just so you know, I did reach out to Sabine as soon as I saw the notification and told her exactly what you just said. Okay. >> And she was happy that I was able to
tell her about that. So, I I did try to get the notification out as soon as I became aware of it. >> Okay. Thank you. I just know there were a lot of people that were planning on coming and so I just want to make sure we get that notification out to everybody so that we can be mindful of their their time and their their calendars.
>> Okay. So, um that brings me to the veterans. Um I've been here multiple times as you guys all know. Um I'm very invested in my own family have three generations of servicemen. Um, I'm
extremely invested in our servicemen and women in this community. Um, I have a couple questions. So, first and foremost, I think you guys really need to ask yourself, how much has this cost? This is sort of getting ridiculous. This will be when you come back at the next
meeting, not the first, second, third, not the fourth, the fifth introduction of the same exact thing in between that. So, let's take the cost of revising everybody's time, whatever. In between all of that, you are having all kinds of meetings with all kinds of members of
town hall. So, you're pulling employees away from what they're doing to be able to sit with them. Everybody's taking time. Time costs money. Time's not replaceable. I think everybody needs to take a look, maybe cut your losses, leave the veterans alone, be mindful of
um you know, your perceived savings, what you think this is going to save you versus what it's going to cost everyone else. Um I want to be honest. Um you know, in a $32 million budget, this
isn't a burden. It's a choice. And it's choice about priorities. Um, I appreciate the appearance of an a compromise here, but I want to put this into context. So, the proposal that that uh Neil that you put up this morning on Facebook, if
I read it correctly and just heard you say it correctly, um, it limits the look back to 17%. Which is less than 1/5if of what they're rightfully owed under the current ordinance. To put that again into context, that means that a veteran
expecting between $6 and $10,000 would actually receive $1,000 to $1,700. So just think about that for a minute. After everything they've sacrificed, after everything they've endured, we're debating whether to just give them a
fraction of what they have earned and what they deserve. >> It's not disappointing. >> Ask you to wrap up soon. >> Oh, I'll wrap up. No problem. Thank you. Um, the decision goes beyond way way way beyond dollars and cents. We made an intentional promise to them. It wasn't
made as an afterthought. It was made intentionally and we should keep that promise. We're being tested to keep that promise. It should remain a priority. One last thing, you talked about 83 in the resolutions where you're earmarking
money for beautifification, flowers up and down Main Street. Um, >> that's not true. >> Not true. No, we're not your market. >> Okay. >> Donations. >> What I'm saying is you created a line item for donations for this. I'm asking you guys to think about in your budget
structure coming up with a set aside line item where money similar to what goes on with the library and what goes on to some of the other things that we fund. a certain percentage of the budget every single year is earmarked, saved, and set aside so we can keep this
ordinance and stay with the promise that we made to our veterans. Thank you. >> Just to clarify that that municipal portion was only going to apply uh to veterans who disability determination is after the date. The people who have it
before would get the full 100%, not just the municipal portion. And the municipal portion is based on towns like Hillside. I think there's others that only provide the the municipal portion. Look, it's a half a loaf. I don't like it either. Um I'm just trying to come up with some kind of compromise here. Um whether it
survives or not, I don't know. But uh again, uh just so it's clear that 17% municipal portion only applies to a certain category uh of veteran who likely will hasn't applied yet for uh the disability determination. So, it was a way to kind of, you know, uh, so our
municipal department could figure out, okay, these people will get the municipal portion. These folks get the full amount. >> Yeah. Councilman Clark, do we know how many are in queue right now? >> No, folks. Folks, we're not going to start getting into this new one.
>> Let's We're in a public comment segment here. Let's let this happen. >> Where can I bring this up then? Well, I have a question. So, you want me to wait till unfinished business and bring it up there? over the next two weeks when we're finding >> I actually want to >> let Mr. Clark speak
>> and explain. I had a quick question that that bridged off that Dean. >> All right. Well, we'll get to it at the end. >> It's a little disrespectful. It's very >> dis No, it's not. You know why? Because >> you asked. Let me finish. Council let you finish. Well, then you're going to have to because Councilman Clark introduced and
tabled it. He was the one that put it out there. He's the one that explained it. That's why I allowed him to answer the question because he explained the context of it. He redlined it and now it's going to come to all of us. So, Mike, >> I'm asking the public to pay attention. I'm trying to ask a question that supports this. Thank you.
>> That's enough, Mike. No theatrics. Okay, please. >> There's no theater here. >> We're in public We're in a public segment section. Okay, this has to happen. Let them proceed. >> Proceed. >> Okay. >> Good evening. >> Hello, >> Jen Rogoff. Um, and actually I think
that um, what deputy mayor Sylvester may have been trying to ask was something similar to what I was curious about, and that is listening to the gentleman from the VFW and from the alliance about the length of time that it takes for a veteran to to, and I don't like the word
earn that disability rating. Um, but before that level of disability rating is established, there's is there any way to see what number of people are in the queue? don't believe that there is quite honestly but that isn't my area of expertise but I'm speaking directly to
Councilman Clark because I also read um the proposal that you posted on Facebook this morning or last evening and and one of the your points was that this is affecting people moving forward but there is a short period of time before a
new ordinance is introduced heard and potentially adopted and there are people that have been in the queue for years that this is going to affect. So the fact that I it's your understanding or the way that you portrayed your message
was that this is only going to affect people moving forward, it's not because we had people here at the last meeting saying that it took more than 10 years for their disability rating to be approved. We've got Councilman Murphy saying that the you know the the
hospitals aren't able to care for our veterans the way that we would all like them to be. There's time. They're waiting for appointments. They're waiting for these ratings. We have Councilman Scott who's sitting here saying, "I don't agree with the numbers that are presented. I read the same documents that Councilman Clark met read
from the tax assessor and I don't agree with what was said." There is so much conflict behind this and it is affecting the people that need these benefits the most. If you don't want to do something that feels like a kidney stone, don't do
it. It's about priorities. These people should be the priorities of this entire community. If you stand behind your word, you will vote no. You will find a different solution. Thank you.
>> Thank you, John. Good evening. My name is Derek El Farthing. I'm junior vice commander, veteran in the foreign war, state of New Jersey. I live in Jersey City, New Jersey, Hudson County. One of the things not covered well here tonight concerning the veterans I'd like
to highlight is that of course the military organization is a pyramid type organization. You have your lower rankings down at the bottom, the vast numbers of those in the military, and those are the ones, as uh commander um
Ken Hagman stated, primarily your soldiers and marines on the ground. They're the ones that get hurt the most. And so they have more than likely the higher numbers that are in the VA system. The thing about it is that lower number
of them or rather the higher number of them are the lower ranking people. One of the things uh that they have against them is the concurrent pay. They're awarded a a stipen from the VA,
but that stipen is reduced if they have a disability or rather the stipen or pension pay from the military, but it's reduced if they have a 50% or lower
rating. And if they are low ranking, this hurts the family budget. So with respect to your ordinance, I'll ask that you think of them when you take
another look, re-edit, and remake your new ordinance. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. >> Good evening. Frank Vavikia, Fox Road. So, uh, I have a few recognitions, a few questions, and then an ask, two asks,
actually. So, I just want to recognize all you folks. Thank you very much for what you're doing. Thank you for your service and your time and effort. In addition, I'd like to also recognize the DPW, Smarter DPW. They do a great job. And, you know, just this winter,
horrible winter, you know better feeling at 4 in the morning going to work, clear roads. So, thank you. Thank you to all. Um, I'd like to ask a few questions. Uh, there's no curve balls. It's just from my understanding. When you guys do appropriations and
budget your do all your budgets, do you have a line item for the cost of the the legal costs? Something explicit legal costs going to the legal department. You spent this
amount of money. >> Yeah. Al if you'd like to ask other questions. I don't want to take up your time with us answering it. So if you want to get through it, I want to >> No, I want you to answer that one first. >> Okay. And that's listed on all the documents and >> in the budget >> is that broken out so we could see it as residents? Yes.
>> Is it clearly? Okay. Thank you. >> And the second with respect to um line items is resurfacing roads, repaving roads. Um do you have an explicit line item for repaving roads?
two, right? >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Two. >> We got two of them. >> And just what are they? >> Capital improvement line, which is an '04 capital improvement line. And then we have our annual O and E line, which are uh operation and expense line uh in
in the public works. >> Um is that like maintenance or is it what is the difference between the two? Well, the capital improvement is more for whole roads that that are getting paved and the O&E is more for uh patching roads or doing a small segment of roads.
>> Um it's my understanding that the amount of money that you're appropriating to the resurfacing of existing roads, the ones that need repair is being reduced year after year or quarter after quarter, however. Is
that a fair statement? I And it's it's a question. I'm not making >> this year. This year's capital improvement program has been suspended. So, it we're hoping it's just for this year. >> Okay. Is there a reason for that? >> In order for us to balance the budget.
>> Okay. Um and there's a reason why I'm asking. You know, on on my road, um we have potholes. There's it's a it's one of the new developments in Sparta. It's 20 years old, over 20 25 years old. Um, and everything settled. The road
settled. Planet Network came in. They dug it up. They made a mess. I shouldn't say that. Take that back. They did a good job. But it's Everything is settling. And the roads are bumpy. There's big potholes. DPW came in just this year like they do every single
year. Put patches in. It's no longer patchable. And I, you know, I talk to the guys when they're out there. It's not patchable. It's, you got to replace it. It gets to the point of replacing, right? I mean, you're wasting your money put because it's it's gone before the winter, right? These patches.
And so when I spoke to them, they says, "Well, you know, um, we're resurfacing roads due to laying in natural gas. You know, you're putting totally get it. Totally supportive. It's all good. However, for us who live in a road
that's falling apart, it's not the worst road in Sparta, but it's you're off road driving down the road. It's very bumpy. Um, you know, it's it's problematic, you know. Yeah, I think you guys could understand. Um,
and having to get in line behind another road that's going to get natural gas is kind of disheartening. And so my question is, how do we get a new road in? This is like over 26 years old. It it it it's not it's not fixable. you got
you're better spending the money replacing it than hacking it in because there's still big holes. So, and that's my question. That's that's truly my question. I mean, how do how do we get in Q and you know, how do we get it prioritized and um
I'll leave it up to you now. I'm done. >> Do you want to share just prioritization? >> I didn't catch your your road. What address are you? >> Run. >> Fox run. >> Oh, okay. >> Fox Run Road. >> Okay. Um Yeah. I'm sorry. just uh communicate with the public works department. All right? You let them know
and then what happens is they work handinhand with the township engineer and then every year we do evaluate the roads. Uh not too long ago we had a full uh inventory assessment. Every road was uh videoed by a car and it was ranked. Um that kind of got uh out of order when
all the gas lines came in. Um, so but um I I would uh put the complaint to the public works and and and ask them that the same question and and we we do we take notice of that and uh they'll go out and they'll look at it and uh if we can, you know, afford to put it on the
schedule, we do. >> Well, I won't complain to them. I'll ask them. >> Yeah, they're good guys. Thank you. >> They're very good. And um >> Yeah. Okay. So >> Okay. Thank you. I actually I >> Okay,
>> we'll have to ask you the Yeah, thank you. Appreciate it. >> Hi. Uh Thomas Blake, uh 15 Senica Lake Road in Sparta. Um I had asked last time about the flock cameras. Just wondering if you guys ended up getting the contract documents about it
or No. Okay. Not yet. Okay. I'm sure you're busy. Thank you for everything you do. But um yeah, I just wanted to bring that up again because I had uh just recently read an article about last uh last year there was a big security breach they
had. Um and it turned out like anybody could publicly access the the cameras. Um so I would assume that you know they fixed it. They had a security update, but I'm sure that if it's a company that has done that in the past, you know, probably not super secure. So that's all. But thank you.
Mr. Finkle, welcome back. >> Started down the path of the um issue out on White Lake Road, not White Lake, uh West Mountain Road. And my disappointment is seems like it's trying to get swept under the carpet as
a property dispute between two homeowners. But there's a zoning board issue, there's a land use issue, there's a building permits issue, there's a lack of followup, there's violations that
haven't been addressed in over two years. This is far more than a dispute between two property owners and I don't know why it's not being addressed. People People know about this property
over the years. It's not a new issue. I made a comment several weeks ago about trucks that used to be on the farm or over at the restaurant. Some of those vehicles look like they're abandoned and not even registered, which is another violation. There's a lot going on here.
So, for you to think that this is just a property dispute between two homeowners, you better do your homework because there's a lot more to it. I'd like your comments on that. >> Yeah, I completely disagree with your characterization of that. You have you can you're entitled to your opinion, but I don't think anyone up here believes
it's just a property dispute between two residents. I think perhaps what you may be referring to, I'm not sure, is that the comments last few meetings is that this is not a matter. This is a legal matter and this is not a matter for um public discussion out in the open.
There's a lot of things happening. Uh you do get updates at the beginning of each meeting now. But I think the comment was that this is not because it involves private residents and land owners. This is not a public forum for uh conversation around the matter. I think that's perhaps what you're >> both, right? It's not one or the other.
It's both. And we do get a brief update. It was tonight. It was about the test for the soil came back clean, right? But we haven't talked about the building permit issue, land use issue, land ordinances,
vehicles that aren't being pursued. So that's that's not just a legal issue with the property owners. >> It's related to private property. And it is still Yeah. It's still not a public public forum conversation to have with
people offering opinions on it. It's a we have township staff and employees that are working on it. You receive updates. We have legal involvement with it. Uh we have our engineer involved with it. So there's that's that's happening. >> Just ask you this. In the last two years, how effective has the code
ordinance uh enforcement been? >> I'd say great. I'm proud of our employees. >> Great. You were you were without an enforcement officer for over a year I think and as far as I understand there's
been no corrections taken place testing but no corrections. Jim Amaya >> well again we're not commenting about employees tonight or ever in public meetings like this. >> Okay. Okay. >> No we can't go there. We're not going to
Right. Is there a way for a private a Sparta citizen to look into uh zoning issues and uh code enforcement issues to see if things are being done? >> Not in the public, but
>> what do you mean by look into like >> come to the town say this was this was an issue for the last two years. What enforcement has been taking place? >> You could open them. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good evening. Marjorie Castell, 353
North Church Road in Sparta. Um, and Jim, I don't understand or Mr. Zep, I'm sorry. But anyway, so I don't understand when you said that it was between two residents. This is about the community. This is about illegal dumping.
You folks put an ordinance in 2022 13. An ordinance is for all of the residents to follow to keep our community clean and it's been violated.
The dirty dirt was coming since 2024. The code inspector came out a few times and then he disappeared. Nobody addressed it. You folks didn't want want to speak with me last two weeks ago. And that's all. No, it's
true. Nobody when I spoke, nobody had anything to say about it >> in in a meeting. >> Yeah. >> Okay. No. All right. >> I go back to my comments a minute ago about the meeting. >> Okay. Go ahead. No, just the same thing I told the last gentleman is that this is not it's not in your best interest or anyone's for us to have a public
conversation every two weeks about this matter, but you're more than welcome and others are to come in and talk to the professionals, talk to the township about it, but it should be done um more in a more personal manner. It shouldn't be done in a private setting when everyone's streaming it. This is and we can't let accus we're not going to make
accusations around others behavior. That's not our role, right? We from a legal standpoint. But a lot of people have been watching this because they're concerned and they want to know what's going to be done about it. So I I mean first of all the truck the truck depot
on a residential or agricultural is still up. The the site is still up. The dirt that was declared clean when they had the dirty dirt up in Vernon, it came back clean with the LSRP.
But then when the DP came in, it was filled with filth. Filled. Well, I had to go to our govern our state and now our state is coming out. So, our state has to come out and investigate it. I
mean, it's pretty sad that nothing I don't understand. There's been no violations there. The permit there were no permits. They don't know where the dirt was coming from. And there's no concern. There's wells, there's the Highlands, and there's neighbors. It's
I'm not the only neighbor there. There's a school on the other side of me. And nobody seems to be up. Nobody's upset about this. Like I I don't I don't think this I don't know. I think this is bigger than everybody just ignoring it.
>> I I don't agree with you that people are ignoring it or people aren't upset about it. I I totally disagree with you on that. you have your welcome to your opinion. Just because we're not here in public yelling and screaming about it doesn't mean that things aren't happening. Um, and I think you know some of this, but
it's just that we're not here in public to litigate everything that's going on with this and we are concerned. I know the community is concerned. >> So, are there violations? Are there are they getting any violations out? >> Again, let's talk about this separately.
I I I don't have the answer right now. I'm not sure if our town manager attorney do, but that's not something that is for now. >> Well, just so you know, this isn't private between me and my neighbor. This is about our community. And that's what
I thought. You folks were here to look after all of us. I you know, anyway, >> and we are discuss that's why there's all this action happening, right? And that's why you're getting updates every two weeks that are pretty detailed and there's other things happening. and the
engineer has been out, right? And >> but they're detailed. But he's saying that it's like a prop between me and my neighbor. It's not between me and my neighbor. This is about illegal dumping. Illegal,
you know, like I don't know that word. I think it means something. >> Yeah. I mean, and your comment about the state or the D being involved. Yeah. They're coming out. Have to. Yeah. That's >> Yeah. I didn't have any other choice. I think the state the D does come out. I
mean that's that's their role. >> I reached out to the senator. I reached out and they got back to me and then they said they get back to me in a few weeks and they said we'll be out this week. >> That's I don't know that I don't think that's good. But
anyway, I appreciate you folks, but I just wish I wish this was going along a little faster, I guess. But I guess it's all in his time. So, God bless. Thank you. >> Can I ask you, did you say the site was
back up? The tractor, >> it's been up the entire time and it just says we don't have availability. So, if if you wanted to rest your truck there and you just called and said, "When will you Oh, I just so happened to have a spot." I mean, I'm just saying
he's already taken them to the wrong site. It's been it's been a journey, I guess. >> I don't know. I don't mean to get so upset, but it is upsetting. I mean, when I like and when I wrote my tax bill, am
I supposed to deduct my Poland Spring water bill? Like, you know, it's you can't imagine if it was your home, you know, if it was your home. I don't know. It's It's pretty disgusting is
what it is. Right. >> Have you been in had a chance to come in recently? Would you like to come in again to have more of a sit down and like talk through a lot of these? >> Nobody's asked me to sit down. >> Okay. Well, I'm asking you, would you like to come in town hall and talk to the town manager? >> Well, would you like to I know that you
folks can only come out to the property two at a time, but if two of you want to come out to the property, I mean, you can come out to the property and we can conversate there, you know, if you want to do something like that. >> Yeah. I I don't know if it's appropriate
for us to come out and visit it. Um I that's why we have our engineer, but we Let's talk about it. >> All right. >> We We've passed it and we've seen the pictures like we're >> Yeah. But when you see it, when you see it, and if you could only imagine if it
was your backyard, you know, and all the water that's nearby, you've got the Kimble Pond, you've got Lake Grenell, you've got all kinds of water nearby and a few of my wells and a few of all the neighbors wells and the just because it's at at
809 West Mountain doesn't mean it's not going to hit two developments or five developments over, >> you know. >> Understood. I know. >> And what about the Highlands? >> I know our professionals have been out, too. and and it's more important they're there than we than we're there to be honest with you. >> Well, you you might be right, but to you
know sometimes you say things, >> right? Thank you. We appreciate it. Let's we can connect afterwards if you want to come in more. We could have a >> You bet. Have a good evening. >> Please accept the invitation to come in and talk to us. >> Thank you. Appreciate it.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. Hi, it's me again. >> Uh, hi. I think you were here already for your one segment, so we'll have to You can only come up once for five minutes during the public open session. Um,
>> can we connect offline afterwards or >> um, wasn't there another one that had a second round here? >> No, not during this open. Yeah, I think earlier in the meeting someone stepped up and went back. Yeah. Thanks.
Okay. All right. Seeing no one else, we will close the public comment period and go on to council leaison updates. I will start at my far right with Councilman Clark.
>> Uh, sure. the um Sparta Trails Committee. I think you heard that there will be a um guided trail um tour on Sparta Glenn uh to look out the the new signs if you haven't
been there already. It's a much more uh robust signage with, you know, different uh markers and everything like that. So, on June 6th at 9:00 a.m. at the Sparta Glenn, there will be um a guided uh hike and we are in the process now of
finishing our application to the county uh for a grant uh that has to be done and probably in next two days. Um it's been a lot of work putting all that information together. So, that will happen on the 15th.
um the Sparta beautifification uh we are in the process of trying to figure out what we actually want to do. I know uh Corey uh we've been in touch with him uh because there's certain things that we would like to do but we have to get uh understand whether actually possible
given the setbacks. So if we were to put planters on Main Street, you know, would it fit within the setbacks? I don't know. Um so uh we have we're looking into that. So, um, we hope to get an answer soon and figure out what we want
to do with the the generous contribution that we received. Uh, Sparta Films, uh, committee is busy planning for the, uh, Spar day and, uh, Wreck has not met yet.
And that is it for me. >> Thank you, Councilman. Councilwoman Murphy. >> Hi. Yes. Tomorrow evening we have senior appreciation senior of the year dinner at um Null Heights and Valerie Makio is
being honored from the president of the Sparta Community Food Pantry which is at six o'clock. So that is terrific. It is a wonderful appreciation of our seniors that never ever stop. There's so many of them. I I don't know how we narrow it
down to just one. Um the Rev 250 we um there was I was I told you before that we had had a ceremony at First Presbyterian Church for all the grave sites from the Revolutionary War and they have now put up the official signs.
So, um, Commander Lichfield, I believe, installed them last week. And the environmental committee, we are waiting to hear on a grant that we have used the last bit of our grant to help
complete all the trail signs, and we are waiting for one that we applied for, and it's a big one. So, we will cross your fingers and hope that comes through. Um, we have a meeting Thursday night. So, I'll let you know the next council
meeting. And Lake Mohawk leaison, as we know, the roads will be the um sorry, nice to see you. Well, they will be starting the end of June on West Shore Trail and Northshore
Trail will be closed. The exact date, we don't know yet. as will the bridge road, the west shore down by Manito Bridge and the wall will be will start being replaced as will
the gate house. So we are going to restore the gate house like it was. Um it will be not habitable but it will be a beautiful welcome into the west side of Lake Mohawk.
Um, that's all I have right now. >> What is the uh timing for that gate house renovation? >> It's the all same time as the wall. >> By end of the year or >> Oh, by when it's going to be finished. That I don't know. But it's going to be started at the same time. So they can
coordinate the traffic and DPW can help us. >> Good. >> They're coordinated through school school closing. >> School closing and >> that's the cue. >> Okay. Okay. We're we hope to have it done at the end of Q3 and you know we're
a little short on funds right now because as as everything it always comes in higher than we budgeted. Um so we're going to be raising funds >> so we're still fundraising >> and uh hopefully we'll have it done by the beginning of the fourth quarter.
>> Excellent. >> Thanks. >> So uh quick update on the master plan subcommittee. Uh we met last night and um making good progress on the uh variety of the different elements that make up a master plan. Some of them are
completed um and other ones are all being worked in in parallel. The master plan work will be incorporating the recently added um assessment analysis um which should take about a month that's funded entirely through a grant from the
Highlands Council. That's the one that we discussed here at a previous meeting, two meetings ago. And the completion of the master plan is targeted for just after the end of the summer. So, it's looking like right now about September. So, good progress coming soon.
>> Yeah. Last one was 40 over 40 years now. >> And that's uh that's it for tonight for council leaison. Deputy mayor. >> Yes. Um Councilman Clark, uh I'll defer to you if we had any updates from the board of ed. I don't think we've had any since we've last spoke, right? So, there's
nothing to report with the board of ed and I think we Councilman Scott and I, you know, gave an update as you heard with the BDC uh committee as well. Uh the planning board um there were no applications presented andor or NQ as we
speak and the meeting was cancelled as um earlier mentioned. So, no other updates other than that. Thank you. and and we councilman Scott. >> Sure. We did the business development and uh on the municipal alliance we are
uh discussing we're discussing as a group what we're going what we're how we're going to spend the OPI settlement funds which should be received in January of 2027 and we'll probably discuss that at our next meeting.
That's it. >> Okay. Thank you. And now for uh unfinished or new business. I'll repeat the process again at my starting my right with uh Councilman Clark. >> Uh none here. >> Okay. Councilwoman Murphy, >> I would just like to mention that with
all of the people that are so passionate. I think we need to get to our Congress. We need to get to our representatives here in northern Jersey to
help to go down to Trenton to push our senators to push all the congress people down there to start helping reimburse municipalities with the ordinances for the vet which they keep saying they're going to bring
up and it keeps getting closed. So, I think we need to really push the state to start reimbursing because it's it's not it's not fair to our veterans. It's not fair to this to the municipalities when the state mandates it and they give
us nothing. So, I think they would have put their money where their mouth is. And I think we need to start really pressing it and having these these laws put through. It's it's just awful they that they don't they don't back their municipalities in the state. So that's
all I have to say. >> So uh this past Friday I had the pleasure of attending a ribbon cutting ceremony uh for the grand opening of a new small business in town. I'd like to congratulate uh it's a new HVAC company. So heating, ventilation, air conditioning company called Your Ultimate Comfort and it's on the corner
of Woodport Road and East Mountain. Um so they had a nice grand opening. I was uh proud to be there, welcome them to the community. Stop by, visit them if you have a chance. They have a wonderful showroom and uh just wishing them enormous success as a new member of our uh not only business community, but
hopefully our Sparta community. >> That's great. >> Deputy Mayor, I know you have a few things. >> Yeah. No, I'll be quick. Um first off, I just want to send out a bunch of thank yous um for all those that attended tonight and um and spoke and uh invested in and pay attention to the community.
So, thanks for attending the meeting. Um, Councilman Clark, thank you for your efforts and your explanations tonight and trying to facilitate the discussion. So, I appreciate that. Jen, thank you for asking the question I was trying to ask. I was just curious about the number
of those that were in queue that we may not see or not see coming into our town and the do we get notified like when someone is in the process of applying for it. So that was it. I was just that
was the point. So I appreciate that. Um now I want to thank um all my fellow council members for tableing the ordinance tonight. Um, you know, I I've been saying this is tied to the budget. This is a budget issue as well and not just a a vets issue. So, I think you all
know my position on it. It's not to do any grandstanding up here. Uh, mayor, it's just a matter of appreciating you all taking the time now to step back and listen to the public and let's get some more information and see if we could bring a compromise or a resolution to
it. I think we just need to get it done and move forward. Um and then you know finally I'm I've asked in the previous meeting that you consider um a resolution or some type of uh um statement or policy that we focus on
education before legislation. I'm I'm earmarking and naming it. I've been working with um Mr. dash to try to frame something that would be acceptable for all of us to consider and provide guidelines to help get educated first before we start passing ordinances and
you know getting the feedback from the public as well and educating both the public and and the council before we make decisions and this way we can make some fact-based and sound decisions on future ordinances or or issues that we're we're faced in dealing with in our
day-to-day month-to-month responsib abilities up here. So, appreciate everybody's time tonight and thanks everyone. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And Councilman Scott, any >> just want to thank everybody for their time. A lot of lot of investment in this in this topic and I'm sure that it will
continue. Um and I hope that we can come to a good resolution on it and I hope that I hope that we can resolve many of the issues that are that have been brought up tonight to people's satisfaction. Thank you. Thank you.
Okay. Uh we are at the end. So, thank you everyone for being here tonight and uh for your energy and your passion around all these topics. It's not easy. Um it's messy. Um but we appreciate it very much and everyone's I believe everyone really is trying to do their best everyone out there and everyone here. And again, we may not agree on
everything, but I do believe that there's no sinister conspiracy theories happening here. I think everyone's trying their best. So, appreciate you being here. Uh with that, may I have a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Second. Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> All right.